Pan American Airways Flight Bag

Q: I have a Pan American Airways flight bag from a 1955 flight into Cuba, along with a tourist pass stamped 1955. I would like to know if it’s worth anything. And would an airline collector be interested in this?

A: On October 28, 1927, a small plane lifted off a dirt runway in Key West, Florida, and headed for Havana, Cuba. It was made by a fledgling company called Pan American Airways and was the first scheduled international flight of a U.S. airline. The airline was started by Juan Trippe along with other financiers as a mail carrier, having obtained the contract for U.S. mail delivery to Cuba. U.S. Diplomatic relations with Cuba were broken off in 1960, and commercial flights were suspended between the U.S. and Cuba after the 1962 missile crisis. Pan Am ceased operations completely in 1991, but Pan Am collectibles live on. Everything from Pan Am aircraft models, posters, and timetables to safety cards, soap and air sickness bags are sought after, as well as 35 different flight bags. Vintage canvas Pan Am flight bags sell to collectors for $35 to $50, depending on condition. Add the 1955 Cuban tourist pass, and the value increases to about $75.